“Atlantic City is safe” Says the Deputy

Let’s first pull some quotes from this article in the Press of Atlantic City titled “Violent crime rate higher in Atlantic City than in other casino cities” before looking deeper.

The violent crime rate in Atlantic City is higher than in other major casino cities, and the rate increased as casinos cut spending on security during the past five years.

Last week, a fatal carjacking at Trump Taj Mahal Casino’s parking garage — the second one in 16 months — brought concerns about tourist safety.

…Homicides — including the killing of 28-year-old Sunil Rattu, of Old Bridge, Middlesex County last Sunday — are more commonplace in Atlantic City than any other major casino market except Detroit, according to 2010 crime statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Atlantic City has seen 12 homicides in 2011.

The article has more information that points to Atlantic City not being safe. The deputy is just putting a good foot forward so not to scare people. Understood. I don’t know anyone that would have considered Atlantic City to be a safe place in the last 20 years.

With that being said, Atlantic City really is no worse than walking through much of New York City. If you keep your wits about you, keep company with you and don’t wander off into dark ally’s by yourself you should be safe.

For what it’s worth, I’m rarely bothered but I tend to keep to the casinos at night and if I’m walking it’s with someone even if I’m there as protection. I don’t treat anywhere different, in Las Vegas I don’t leave the strip and try to avoid the bridges to cross the street late night if possible.

No, Atlantic City is not a safe place. But if you treat it carefully, you should not any problems. Just don’t be stupid.